|— Major Update Concept/Pitch - "Indus —||-------Rotors" - The Indian Nation &-------||-------Helicopter Tree [Updated v.2]-------|(Polls are at the bottom)
Description:
India Is a large and populous country rich in its culture and history, both civil and military, however its Army Aviation Corps is a much more recent addition to their military. The Indian Army Aviation Corps, or IAAC was officially established on November 1, 1986, however its roots can be traced to the Air Observation Posts used by the Royal Indian Air Force in WWII. Post-WWII, Indian Air OP units were transferred to the IAF, and the IAAC was formed to continue providing the Indian Army with a dedicated aviation wing, with helicopters being a critical portion of the IAAC since the first license-built Cheetahs built by Hindustan Aeronautics, to the Indigenous Upgraded Prachand attack helicopters that they now use. For a more in-depth explaination of the history of the Indian Army Aviation Corps, check out the tab below!:(Indian Army Aviation Corps Insignia)
In-Depth History
India’s helicopter fleet can be traced back to the formation of the Air Observation Posts by the Royal Indian Air Force in WWII, playing crucial roles in liaison, reconnaissance, and artillery spotting. In 1947, with the splitting of Pakistan and India, also saw the splitting of the Air OP units between the newly formed nations. In India, operation of the remaining Air OP units fell onto the newly formed Indian Air Force, however was later given to the Indian Army, which would eventually lead to the formation of the Indian Army Aviation Corps, or IAAC in 1988, driven by the need for greater autonomy and flexibility in its helicopter operations and lessons learned from the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak conflicts, consolidating the vast majority of helicopters in the military to a succinct arm, apart from the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, which operates a handful of their own helicopters.
With the formation of the IAAC, they initially operated license-built French Helicopters by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL, called the HAL Chetak & HAL Cheetah, and the HAL Lancer, India’s first Attack Helicopter. The IAAC has played a significant role in Indian military operations, such as the Kargil War, Operation Pawan, and Numerous peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations across the subcontinent, and as the IAAC begins phasing out its aging fleet, it welcomes new indigenous aircraft into its service, with the HAL Prachand being its new poster-boy, and imports like the AH-64E Apache Guardian bolstering its ranks.
Currently, India stands as a regional power in southern Asia, and is ranked as the 4th most powerful military in the world with also the 4th largest helicopter force, with 869 units as of 2024. From this, its interesting to see how India is has only 6 vehicles in-game, all of which are in the British TT, when they have more than enough vehicles to make a independent nation tree comparable to Any other Major Nation.
Below I made a example TT (That is probably unbalanced af), that could be used to start india as a nation in WarThunder. However there are a few things to note:
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While this Tree may seem rather small, it is comparable in size to any other heli tree already in game, and is due to expand in upcoming versions.
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India’s helicopter fleet is comprised of a wide array of imported, modified, or indigenous airframes, and the tech tree below is a brief look at some of the airframes used. Now, copy-paste is present, and included, however India does contain more than enough helicopters of their own to produce their own line, I just included the copy-paste to bolster its size and to show accurate representation. However I am open to changing it if it is unwanted.
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While I play and love WarThunder, I am not perfect, so I will try to create reasonable BRs for the vehicles, estimations based on other ingame TTs and data. Chances are these BRs are wrong, and would be changed, if they are ridiculously wrong, ill say now, i’m sorry.
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IMPORTANT: this TT is a work in progress and is prone to change (More countries may come…)
[Indian Helicopter Tree v.2]
List of Vehicles:
Line 1 - Soviet/Russian Helicopters
🛞Mi-4 (Rank V; 8.0):
India has purchased a handful of Mi-4s from Russia to bolster the army’s air mobility and rapid transport.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 12.7 mm TKB-481 machine gun
- ATGMs
- Rocket Pods
- Bombs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 190 km/h (118 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,000 m (19,685 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 11 m/s (2,165 ft/min)
Mi-8-1V (Rank V; 8.3):
India has purchased a handful of Mi-8s from Russia to bolster the army’s air mobility and rapid transport.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 12.7 mm A-12.7 machine gun
- ATGMs
- Rocket Pods
- Bombs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 260 km/h (161 mph)
- Max Altitude: 4,950 m (16,240 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 11.5 m/s (2,264 ft/min)
Mi-35E (Rank VI; 10.7):
India has purchased a handful of Mi-35s from Russia to bolster the army’s air mobility and rapid transport.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 12.7mm Yak-B Rotary Machine Gun
- ATGMs
- ATAMs
- Rocket Pods
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 335 km/h (208 mph)
- Max Altitude: 4,900 m (16,100 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 11.2 m/s (2,205 ft/min)
Mi-17V-5 (Rank VII; 11.0):
India has purchased a handful of Mi-35s from Russia to bolster the army’s air mobility and rapid transport.
Stats:
Armament:
- Gun Pods
- ATGMs
- ATAMs
- Rocket Pods
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 280 km/h (170 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 8 m/s (1,600 ft/min)
Line 2 - Western Helicopters
Sea King (Rank VI; BR 9.0)
India Operates Multiple Sea Kings through is Naval Air Arm.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 12.7mm Machine Gun
- 2x ASW Torpedoes
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 207 km/h (129 mph)
- Max Altitude: 4,480 m (14,700 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 10.3 m/s (2,020 ft/min)
SH-60R (Rank VII; BR 11.3)
India Operates Multiple Sea Hawk Romeos through is Naval Air Arm.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 12.7mm Machine Gun
- ASW Torpedoes
- ASW Missiles
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 270 km/h (168 mph)
- Max Altitude: 3,700 m (12,000 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 8.4 m/s (1,650 ft/min)
🛞AH-64E (Rank VII; BR 12.0)
India recently purchased several Apache Gaurdian Helicopters to bolster is Attack fleet, with all orders to be completed in 2025.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 30mm M230 Autocannon
- ATGMs
- ATAMs
- Rocket Pods
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 293 km/h (168 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 14.2 m/s (2,795 ft/min)
Line 3 - Indian Helicopters
Lancer (Rank V; BR 7.3)
India’s First Light Attack Helicopter, based of the French Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama.
Stats:
Armament:
- 2x 12.7mm Gunpods
- 6x 70mm Rockets
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 192 km/h (119 mph)
- Max Altitude: 5,400 m (17,715 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)
Chetak (Rank V; BR 8.7)
License-Built Aérospatiale Alouette III, built by HAL and capable of firing ATGMs.
Stats:
Armament:
- 4x SB.11 ATGMs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
- Max Altitude: 3,200 m (10,500 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 4.3 m/s (850 ft/min)
Dhruv Mk.IV WSI (P) (Rank VI; BR 9.7)
India converted its HAL Dhruv Mk.IIIs into the Mk.IV WSI standard, turning the utility helicopter into a light attack helicopter.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 20mm M197 Rotary Autocannon
- Rockets
- ATGMs
- ATAMs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 10.33 m/s (2,033 ft/min)
Rudra (Rank VI; BR 10.3)
The HAL Rudra is India’s production attack helicopter alongside the HAL prachand, based on the HAL Dhruv utility helicopter.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 20mm M621 Autocannon
- Pod: 12x 70mm Rockets
- Rack: 4x HELINA ATGMs
- Rack: 2x Mistral ATAMs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 280 km/h (175 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 10.33 m/s (2,033 ft/min)
LCH (P) (Rank VII; BR 11.3)
India’s Prototype of the Prachand helicopter for the LCH program.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 20mm M621 Autocannon
- Pod: 12x 70mm Rockets
- Rack: 4x HELINA ATGMs
- Rack: 2x Mistral ATAMs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 280 km/h (175 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,500 m (21,300 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 12 m/s (2,400 ft/min)
Prachand (Rank VII; BR 12.0)
India’s Newest Indigenous Light Attack Helicopter.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 20mm M621 Autocannon
- Pod: 12x 70mm Rockets
- Rack: 4x HELINA ATGMs
- Rack: 2x Mistral ATAMs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 280 km/h (175 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,500 m (21,300 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 12 m/s (2,400 ft/min)
Extras - Premium Helicopters
Cheetah (Rank V; BR 7.3)
India equipped its HAL Cheetahs with armaments, similar to the HAL Lancer.
Stats:
Armament:
- 2x 12.7mm Gunpods
- 6x 70mm Rockets
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 192 km/h (119 mph)
- Max Altitude: 5,400 m (17,715 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)
Dhruv Mk.III Navy (Rank VI; BR 10.0)
The Naval Variant of the Indian Dhruv helicopter, with more advanced avionics and the ability to carry torpedoes and ASMs.
Stats:
Armament:
- 1x 12.7mm Machine Gun
- 2x ASW Torpedoes
- 2x Anti-Ship Missiles
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
- Max Altitude: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 10.33 m/s (2,033 ft/min)
Extras - Event Vehicles
Chetak (E) (Rank V; BR 8.7)
India once made their HAL Chetaks to look like flying elephants… would be cool ngl.
Stats:
Armament:
- 4x SB.11 ATGMs
Mobility:
- Max Speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
- Max Altitude: 3,200 m (10,500 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 4.3 m/s (850 ft/min)
A Look at the Top Prize of the tree, compared to other LAHs…
| LAH Statistics | Prachand |
Z-10 |
Tiger HAD Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Crew | 2 |
2 |
2 |
| Protection/Avionic Systems | Flares, Chaff, MAWS, LWS, RWR, IRST, CCIP, NVD, TID, HMD |
Flares, Chaff, MAWS, LWS, RWR, IRST, CCIP, NVD, TID |
Flares, Chaff, MAWS, LWS, RWR, IRST, CCIP, NVD, TID, HMD |
| Weight | 5.8 Tonnes |
5.5 Tonnes |
5.2 Tonnes |
| Engine | (2x) Safran 1,384 hp (1,032 kW) Ardiden-1H1 engines |
(2x) AVIC 1,300 hp (1,000 kW) WZ-9 engines |
(2x) MTR 1,303 hp (972 kW) MTR390-E engine |
| - Max Speed | 280 km/h (170 mph) |
270 km/h (168 mph) |
315 km/h (196 mph) |
| - Max Altitude | 6,500 m (21,300 ft) |
6,000 m (19,685 ft) |
4,300 m (14,108 ft) |
| - Rate of Climb | 12 m/s (2,400 ft/min) |
10 m/s (1,969 ft/min) |
11 m/s (2,165 ft/min) |
| - Max Range | 700 km (435 mi) |
800 km (500 mi) |
800 km (500 mi) |
| Main Armament | 20mm M621 Autocannon |
23mm Type-23L Autocannon |
30mm GIAT 30 Autocannon |
| Hardpoints | 4x Wing-Mounts |
4x Wing-Mounts |
4x Wing-Mounts |
| - ATAMs | Rack: 2x Mistrals |
Rack: 4x TY-90s |
Rack: 4x ATAS (AIM-92) |
| - ATGMs | Rack: 4x Dhruvastras |
Rack: 4x AKD-10 |
Rack: 4x Spike-ER |
| - Rockets | Pod: 12x 70mm FZ275 LGRs |
Pod: 18x 57mm Type 57-1 Unguided |
Pod: 22x 68mm SNEB Type 23 Unguided |
| - Bombs | Various Ordinance |
None |
None |
Additional Stuffs:
Indian Munitions
HELINA (Air-to-Ground Missile)
The HELINA is the Helicopter-Based Variant of the India “Nag” ATGM, a indigenous, 3rd-Generation Top-Down attack munition used by India’s Army Aviation Corps.
Stats:
- Targeting: IIR LOBL
- Attack Modes:
- Top-Down
- Direct
- Max Range: 7 km (4.35 mi)
Dhruvastra (Air-to-Ground Missile)
The Dhruvastra is a slightly modified variant of the HELINA missile used by the Indian Air Force.
Stats:
- Targeting: IIR LOBL
- Attack Modes:
- Top-Down
- Direct
- Max Range: 7 km (4.35 mi)
NASM-SR (Anti-Ship Missile)
NASM-SR is an indigenous Anti-Ship missile seeing adoption into the Indian Air force and Navy, capable of being fired from helicopters and aircraft.
Stats:
- Targeting: Infrared Guidance
- Attack Modes:
- Proximity Fuze
- Direct
- Max Range: 55 km (34 mi)
LGR-70 (Aerial Rockets)
The LGR-70 are License-built 70mm Aerial Rockets from Thales built by the Indian Company Adani Defense.
Stats:
- Targeting: Laser Guidance
- Attack Modes:
- Direct
- Max Range: 7 km (4.35 mi)
India In Game:
India’s vehicles already in game are rare but well liked, and only reflect a small portion of the vehicles and munitions used by the Indian military, both of upgraded imports and of indigenous airframes. In game, India’s helicopters would be a worthy opponent to face, being comparable to similar light attack helicopters of other nations, along side their own effective indigenous weaponry. All in all, India remains largely unrepresented in the game yet would provide a massive new variety of new unique helicopters to the game.
The HAL Lancer would serve as a great low-rank helicopter to start the tree, requiring skill and finesse to be used effectively, however as you move up the tree, you’d be met by familiar vehicles, however you would still be able to move further down the line with indigenous vehicles, eventually ending with the HAL Prachand, a helicopter that is comparable to any other top-tier in game.
Sources:
Lotta Sources...
India’s Military Helicopter Strength 2024 » DefenceXP - Indian Defence Network
Explained: The Indian-made LCH ‘Prachand’ and its significance - The Hindu
HAL Rudra (ALH WSI) Attack Helicopter - Army Technology
HAL Rudra (ALH-WSI): Photos, History, Specification
Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), India
Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama - Wikipedia
Aérospatiale Alouette III - Wikipedia
And now for the final question…
- Yes
- No